Secret Daughter: A Novel

On the eve of the monsoons, in a remote Indian village, Kavita gives birth to Asha. But in a culture that favours sons, the only way for Kavita to save her newborn daughter's life is to give her away. It is a decision that will haunt her and her husband for the rest of their lives, even after the arrival of their cherished son. Halfway around the globe, Somer, an American doctor, decides to adopt a child after making the wrenching discovery that she will never have one of her own. When she and her husband Krishnan see a photo of baby Asha from a Mumbai orphanage, they are overwhelmed with emotion for her. Somer knows life will change with the adoption, but is convinced that the love they already feel will overcome all obstacles. Interweaving the stories of Kavita, Somer, and Asha, "Secret Daughter" poignantly explores issues of culture and belonging. Moving between two worlds and two families, one struggling to survive in the fetid slums of Mumbai, the other grappling to forge a cohesive family despite their diverging cultural identities, this powerful debut novel marks the arrival of a fresh talent poised for great success.

Shilpi Somaya Gowda

Harpercollins World

"Deeply involving....Rings so true." -- Emma Donoghue, bestselling author of&nbsp;Room From the international bestselling author of&nbsp;Secret Daughter&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Golden Son&nbsp;comes a poignant, unforgettable novel about a family's growing apart and coming back together in the wake of tragedy. "The Shape of Family&nbsp;is a novel about race and culture, parents and siblings, marriage and love, but most of all, it's about finding hope after darkness. Shilpi Somaya Gowda is a compassionate and wise storyteller who keeps us riveted from beginning to end." -- Jean Kwok,&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;bestselling author of&nbsp;Girl in Translation The Olander family embodies the modern American Dream in a globalized world. Jaya, the cultured daughter of an Indian diplomat and Keith, an ambitious banker from middle-class Philadelphia, meet in a London pub in 1988 and make a life together in suburban California. Their strong marriage is built on shared beliefs and love for their two children: headstrong teenager Karina and young son Prem, the light of their home. But love and prosperity cannot protect them from sudden, unspeakable tragedy, and the family's foundation cracks as each member struggles to seek a way forward. Jaya finds solace in spirituality. Keith wagers on his high-powered career. Karina focuses relentlessly on her future and independence. And Prem watches helplessly as his once close-knit family drifts apart. When Karina heads off to college for a fresh start, her search for identity and belonging leads her down a dark path, forcing her and her family to reckon with the past, the secrets they've held and the weight of their choices. The Shape of Family&nbsp;is an intimate portrayal of four individuals as they grapple with what it means to be a family and how to move from a painful past into a hopeful future. It is a profoundly moving exploration of the ways we all seek belonging--in our families, our communities and ultimately, within ourselves.

The Shape of Family: A Novel

Literature & Fiction

Literary

HarperCollins B and Blackstone Publishing

Debut novelist Shilpi Somaya Gowda pens this compelling tale about two families, worlds apart, linked by one Indian child. After giving birth to a girl for a second time, impoverished Kavita must give her up to an orphanage. The baby, named Asha, is adopted by an American doctor and raised in California. But once grown, Asha decides to return to India.“Gowda writes with compassion and uncanny perception…while portraying the vibrant traditions, sights, and sounds of modern India.” —Booklist

Secret Daughter

Genre Fiction

Recorded Books on Brilliance Audio

Anil Patel, the golden son, carries the weight of tradition and his family's expectations when he leaves his tiny Indian village to begin a medical residency in Dallas, Texas. When his father dies, Anil becomes the de facto head of the Patel household and inherits the mantle of arbiter for all of the village's disputes. But he is uncertain that he has the wisdom and courage demonstrated by his father. Back in India, Anil's closest childhood friend, Leena, struggles to adapt to her new arranged marriage, which has shattered her romantic hopes. Though Anil and Leena struggle to come to terms with their identities thousands of miles apart, their lives eventually intersect once more -- changing them both and the people they love forever.

The Golden Son: A Novel

United States

HarperCollins Publishers and Blackstone Audio

Anil est un jeune Indien qui commence des études de médecine dans le Gujarat puis part faire son internat aux Etats-Unis. Sa redoutable mère rêve pour lui d'une union prestigieuse. Or, depuis qu'il est petit, elle le sait très proche de Leena, la fille d'un métayer pauvre. Quand celle-ci devient une très belle jeune fille, il faut l'éloigner, en la mariant au plus vite. Les destins croisés d'Anil et de Leena forment la trame de ce roman, lui en Amérique, qui est loin d'être le paradis dont il rêvait ; et elle en Inde, où sa vie sera celle de millions de femmes victimes de mariages arrangés. Ils se reverront un jour, chacun prêt à prendre sa vie en main. Mais auront-ils droit au bonheur ?

Un fils en or (French Edition)

French and European Publications Inc

Golden Son

Harper-Collins India

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